Growing green?

Lower Valley sites apply to grow, process marijuana

Only three of the 27 marijuana-related applications filed in Yakima County as of last week are for retail shops.

However, a third of the 24 applications to grow or process the crop are from here in the Lower Valley.

That’s according to figures the Washington State Liquor Control Board released last week.

Those seeking to produce or grow marijuana in the Lower Valley are S&D Farms of Sunnyside, Royal Greens in Outlook, Agro Technic in Mabton, Sapid Leaf in Outlook and Thomas Paul near Sunnyside.

Applicants from here looking to process the crop are Royal Greens, Sapid Leaf and Paul.

A local building contractor, Paul has a degree in horticulture and notes that it’s a long application review process to actually receive a permit from the state for growing or processing marijuana.

Paul is also a realist, noting there is uncertainty even if he’s granted a permit.

“It might not ever become a big thing, nothing might ever happen,” he says, noting both Yakima County and the city of Sunnyside have issued moratoriums on accepting applications from marijuana-related businesses in response to passage of I-502.